Guard your Christmas gifts

By Adrian Lowery
Updated: 05:00 BST, 16 December 2005

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FOR an 概算の 80,000 世帯s up and 負かす／撃墜する the country that receive unwanted 訪問者s over Christmas, merriment is 取って代わるd by 悲惨.

And it's not the in-法律s who are to 非難する: this is the number of 国内の 押し込み強盗s 報告（する）／憶測d over last year's Christmas period.

With people 推定する／予想するd to spend an 普通の／平均（する） of £310 on 現在のs this year, the total 量 lost to 罪，犯罪 could be over £50m. 望ましい 現在のs like the much sought-after Microsoft Xbox 360, the iPod Nano, Sony PlayStation Portable and chocolate fountains mean it's 井戸／弁護士席 価値（がある） taking a few 警戒s. These 含む:

? Don't tempt any unwanted guests - keep all 現在のs out of 見解（をとる）.

? 安全な・保証する all accessible windows, 特に those on the ground 床に打ち倒す and 近づく drainpipes and flat roofs, with 重要な-operated locks.

? 確実にする your Christmas lights are wired 正確に. Poor wiring is a source of many 事故s and much 損失 over the festive period. If in 疑問 協議する a qualified electrician.

? Make sure your 保険 政策 covers you for freezer food should there be a 力／強力にする 削減（する）.

If you are going away over the Christmas period, make sure you 取り消す the milk and papers and ask 隣人s to keep an 注目する，もくろむ on your home. Light timers can be a good idea too.

But most importantly, check with your 保険会社 to find out if they give you extra cover at Christmas. If not, you should be able to 追加する the items on to your contents' value (and maybe shop around for better cover). Some 保険会社s automatically 増加する your sum insured by 10% for the month of December (Bradford & Bingley and More Than are two).

If you have an 制限のない cover 政策 then you don't have to worry. But it is 井戸／弁護士席 価値（がある） reviewing your contents 定期的に, 特に if you buy high-value items that need to be 指名するd or which might take your contents' value over a 最大限 cover 限界.